Toeless hose



July 15, 1947.

l. RUTH TOELESS HOSE Filed Nov. 9, 1945 FIG. 1

. 4. 0 0 0 0w0w0 0n00 0 000 0 0 0 awe/WM RUTH,

MARJORIE 1.

Patented July 15, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOELESS HOSE I Marjorie I. Ruth, Louisville, Ky. Application November 9, 1945, Serial No. 627,666

7 (ol. 2-2s9) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to wearing apparel, and more particularly to hosiery for feminine wear.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved type of hosiery which is comfortable to wear, is long lasting, and which allows the toe portions of the foot to be exposed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved structure for feminine hosiery wherein a wide range of foot sizes may be accommodated in a given design of hose so that only a few designs are required to accommodate all foot sizes, and wherein hose will be less likely to develop holes in the foot portions thereof, due to the elimination of those portions of the hose which are ordinarily subject to greatest wear.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved type of feminine hosiery Wherein a satisfactory fit is readily obtained over a wide range of foot sizes and wherein the appearance of the wearers limb is generally improved.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of hose according to this invention as worn on the wearer's limbs.

Figure 2 is a detail cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a front end View of a stocking constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 4 is a detail view of a modified reinforcing hem structure for the toe opening of a stocking according to this invention.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional detail view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4 Referring to the drawings, ll designates a stocking having a foot portion I2, said foot portion being reinforced with additional threads woven therein at certain parts thereof, as indicated at I3, the front end of said reinforced foot portion being formed with live apertures graduated in size to accommodate the five toes of the foot to allow the toes to project from said reinforced foot portion in the manner shown in Figure 1. The apertures are made amply large to comfortably receive a wide range of toe sizes.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a modification of the stocking of this invention wherein the toe openings are reinforced by a hem l4 stitched around the openings, there being stitching l5 between the adjacent openings adapted to be received between the wearers toes when the stocking is worn. The junction portions between the toes are smoothly stitched so as to be received be- 2 tween the adjacent toes of the Wearers foot without causing discomfort or irritation.

In the embodiment of Figure 4, the front end of the foot portion of the stocking is initially open and the separate toe openings are formed by stitching together the upper and lower front.

end portions of the foot portion adjacent the open front end at four spaced intermediate points to define the five toe openings. The hem I4 is a continuous band of material which is secured to the periphery of the toe openings.

One of the important factors which determines hose foot length requirements is the wide range of variation in toe lengths among individual wearers. By eliminating the toe portions of the hose this factor is removed, so that all individuals may be properly fitted by employing merely a few size designs of the toeless hose of this invention, such as small, medium, and large. In this manner, large stocks of hose need not be carried on the dealer's shelves, and the classifications of the hose may be devoted to wider ranges of colors and fabric styles.

When worn with open-toed or perforated shoes, the toeless hose of this invention permits the toes to be exposed to the air, promoting freer circulation of the blood and improving the condition of the skin. This is especially advantageous and beneficial in warm weather.

Most failures in conventional hose occur as a result of rubbing of the wearers toes against the toe portions of the hose, and much mending of said toe portions is required to make the hose last at least until the upper portions thereof are worn out. By eliminating the toe portions of the hose entirely, as is done according to this invention, the amount of mending required during the overall life of the hose is greatly reduced.

While described above in connection with feminine hose, the invention may also be employed in mens and childrens hose, whereby similar advantages may be obtained as above set forth.

While a specific embodiment of toeless hose has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention other than as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: r

l. A foot garment comprising a member shaped to encase the body portion of the foot, said member having five apertures graduated in size and arranged at the forward portion of said member 3 to receive the five toes of the foot with the body portion of the foot encased in said member, said member about the apertures being reinforced by additional material.

2. A foot garment comprising a member shaped to encase the body portion of a foot, said member having five apertures at the forward portion thereof to receive the five toes of the foot and to extend therefrom, the forward portion of. the member having a hem strip stitched therearound whereby to reinforce the toe openings, and further stitching between the adjacent openings to provide a junction for each of the spaces between the toes whereby to form the toe openings.

3. A foot garment comprising a member adapted to encase the body portion of a foot, said member having apertures arranged at the forward portion of said member to receive the five toes of the foot with the body portion of the foot encased in said member, said forward portion about the apertures being reinforcedby additionai threads Woven into the material.

' MARJORIE I. RUTH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,694,324 Kaplan Dec. 4, 1928 1,314,356 Nordblad Aug. 26, 1919 1,798,201 Hedges Mar. 31, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 3,099 Great Britain Feb. 11, 1893 137,780 Austria Jan. 15, 1934 

